PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON WORLD BANK AIDED EMERGENCY TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS UNDER ENVIRONMENT SECTOR HELD ON 24.08.2005 AT DAYS INN DECCAN PLAZA, ROYAPETTAH, CHENNAI.

INAUGURAL SESSION

Thiru Ashish Kumar Srivastava, I.F.S., Joint Director of Department of Environment welcomed all the participants.

Joint Director highlighted the necessity of incorporating environmental issues in the post Tsunami rehabilitation works to be taken up along the coast of Tamil Nadu. He briefly explained the purpose of the workshop that is to fine tune the Draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the prospective consultants to take up various projects under environment sector.

Dr. S. Balaji, I.F.S., Director of Environment explained in detail the theme of the workshop highlighting the scope of the work under each project. He also emphasized that the vulnerability of the area should be taken into consideration while preparing the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan.

Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests Department emphasized that the conceptual ambiguities may be ironed out before embarking on massive projects along the coastline. He also emphasized that the issues of industrial discharge in the coastline water bodies may be incorporated in ICZMP.

TECHNICAL SESSION

Joint Director explained in detail each project which is to be taken up under environment sector highlighting the issues involved in that viz., tasks to be carried out in each, project duration, the expected out come, etc. He also requested all the participants to suggest the modifications or additions in the ToR to make the studies more meaningful and participatory. The following were the suggestions from the different participants to be suitably incorporated in the Draft ToRs.

ADDITIONAL POINTS AS EMERGED IN THE WORKSHOP

(1)    Demarcation of HTL along the coast of Tamil Nadu

Dr. Ramalingam of Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University, made a presentation highlighting the technical procedure involved in marking the HTL on the village maps. He also explained the various methods adopted for measuring the coastal vulnerability. It was suggested:

1. The HTL has to be taken as defined by the Ministry of Environment and Forests
2. A single agency should take up the whole stretch of Tamil Nadu coast in order to avoid the discrepancies
3. If there is any standardized method by MoEF then that has to be followed by the selected agency
4. For the data of HTL, the base year should be 1991
5. Digitization of map should also be done by the same consultant
6. For the tidal influenced water bodies, the distance upto which 5 PPT salinity is observed may be taken up as a sub-project
7. Erection of stone pillars on the reference points should be taken up by different agency.

(2) COASTAL VULNERABILITY

Prof. Ramachandran of Anna University informed that the vulnerability map has already bean prepared by the MoEF and Department of Science and Technology. This may be referred before taking up any new study.

1. He also informed that there is a standard method accepted for the vulnerability index which is done by an expert from U.K.
2. Contour level mapping has to be done for 0.5m. interval.
3. It was suggested that past data for atleast 100 years should be taken up to assess the vulnerability.
4. Segmentation of the area can be done for different agencies to take up the studies.
5. Prof. V. Sundar, Department of Ocean Engineering, I.I.T., explained the methodology used by the I.I.T. to assess the coastal vulnerability.

(3) PREPARATION OF INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PLAN MAP

Instead of ICONOS imageries Resource Sat or Karto Sat data may be used.
There were different views whether to take up the study as segment wise or as a single study, could be decided later.

1. Vulnerability of the ground water availability may also be a part of study.
2. Data related with 1991 land use may also be highlighted.
3. Dredging up of the river mouth and protection of the Buckingham Canal should be emphasized in the study.
4. Plantation of coconut and palmyrah may be taken up in the rural coastal areas.
5. Existing ICZMP should be referred before going ahead with preparing the new plan.
6. Equitable and land based activities may be emphasized upon.
7. For ease of implementation district wise approach can be taken up for ICZMP.
8. Instead of 1 km., coastal village boundary may be taken for preparation of ICZMP.
9. The map should be prepared in 1:5000 scale.
10. A report also to accompany the maps.
11. An expert committee to be formed by PMU to periodically review the process of preparation of ICZMP.

(4) BIOREMEDIATION OF THE WATER BODIES

1. A time period of 18 months may be given for application of bio-products.
2. Grey water may be utilized for coconut plantations.
3. DPR highlighting all the works to be taken up.
4. Periodical water quality monitoring to be taken up.

5) TRAINING MODULES

Awareness on drinking water, health and sanitation has to be included in the training modules along with the coastal issues.

Any other issues can be emailed to Department of Environment at e-mail tndoe@eth.net or by post to

The Director,
Department of Environment,
Ground Floor, Panagal Building,
No.1, Jeenis Road, Saidapet,
Chennai - 600 015.